Mount for telescopic sights



Um. w, 1942.

E. L. MEISEL MOUNT FOR TELESCOPIC SIGHTS Filed June 26, 1940 3 Sheets-Sheet l 3 Wu Mm [emasr L W555i.

m 29, 1942. E. 1,. MElSEL MOUNT FOR TELESCOPIC SIGHTS Filed June 26, 1940 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 f /fi. 6.

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4 MMWAEMMQM 3H0: Maya eon. 29, 11942. E. L. MEISEL 2,396,972

MOUNT FOR TELESCOPIC SIGHTS Filed June 26, 1940 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 vi -H my if atented Dec. 29, 1942 ,itawz MOUNT FOR TELESCOPIC SIGHTS 2 Claims.

The present invention relates to means for mounting a telescope on a rifle, and more particularly to a mount that can be easily secured to and removed from the rifle and in which the windage adjustment is not aflected when the mount is removed. While the description of the invention is directed primarily to a construction for hunting scopes, it is of course obvious that it can be used for target scopes.

It is Well known that there has been an increased demand to employ telescope sights in lieu of the well known iron sights. However, the problem of mounting the scope on the rifle has resulted in heavy, clumsy and otherwise objectionable mounts. Manifestly, the employment of a low mounted scope will afiord the best results since such a mount is more durable, less cumbersome and top heavy and permits the firm cheeking of the stock. Here again the structure of the mount has been cumbersome to provide the necessarily rugged winda'ge adjustment for the scope. I

The larger and the heavier the hunting scope and the higher it is mounted, the more opportunity there is that it will be knocked out of alignment, and these high mounted scopes require a much heavier and stronger mount than do the mounts which are placed low on the rifle barrel. A scope mount rarely improves the general appearance of the rifle, but the higher the scope is positioned, the more unsightly the appearance of the gun becomes. Another important reason Why the high scope mounts are not particularly desirable is that a rifle thus equipped, due to increased parallax, does not shoot especially accurately, and as a matter of fact better results can be achieved with the iron sights than with such a scope.

We may classify the hunting scope mounts that are used at the present time into two classes-first, the bridge type, and second, the side bracket type. The merits of each of the above mentioned mounts are well known and it is suflicient to say that heretofore in the bridge type mounts, it has not been possible to position the scope quite as low as can be done with the side bracket type.

These prior mounts I find possess certain undesirable characteristics. For example, the bases that are used are especially made for the job and detract greatly from the appearance of the gun. In addition, it is usually necessary when the scope is removed to disturb the windage adjustment, and as a consequence necessitates shooting in the rifle to obtain the same adjustment when the scope is replaced. Also, some of the mounts have been of such constructicn that they are subject to serious damage being removed by unskilled hands, and a damaged mount as a general proposition makes the use of scope sights impractical.

An object of the present invention is to overcome the above and other disadvantageous features that now confront the art.

Another object of my invention is to provide a mount for a rifle telescopic sight which may be readily removed and replaced on the rifle with out afiecting the windage setting of the sight.

Another object of my invention is to provide a scope mount that is simple in construction. and operation and which can be cheapl and easily manufactured.

Still a further object of my invention is to provide a mount for scope sights which presents a pleasing appearance and the exposed surfaces of which are free from any projections or protuberances that often prove undesirable in the hunting fields.

Yet another object Of my invention is to provide a bridge type hunting scope that is mounted low on the barrel of the rifle but which is of sufiicient height to permit bolt action rifles to be easily operated.

And a further object of my invention is to provide a mount for hunting scopes that will effectively withstand the recoil shock of the rifle.

Still another object of my invention is to provide a scope mount having incorporated therein a windage adjustment that can only be changed by the user of the gun.

To accomplish the foregoing and other objects, my invention in general comprises a front and rear clamp for a scope sight. These clamps coact with mounting plates detachably connected to and bridging the receiver of the rifle. The clamps are dovetailed to the mounting plates in such a manner that they will only have motion in one plane.

A windage adjustment is associated with the rear clamp and adjustment, and once having been made by the operator of the gun, cannot be changed by removal of the "scope and mount from the gun.

In the drawings in which like numerals indicate the same or similar parts:

Figure 1 is a View in side elevation showing my scope mount bridging the receiver of a bolt action rifle.

Figure 2 is a view in perspective of the rear scope clamp.

Figure 3 is a view in perspective of the rear attaching clamp illustrating the windage adjustment.

Figure 4 is a view in perspective of the front scope clamp.

Figure 5 is a view in perspective of the front attaching clamp.

Figure 6 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view of the rear scope clamp.

Figure 7 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view of the front scope clamp.

Figure 8 is a sectional view taken along the line 88 of Figure 6 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 9 is a sectional view taken along the line 9--9 of Figure 6 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 10 is a sectional view taken along the line [0-H] of Figure 7 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 11 is a sectional view taken along the line ll-l| of Figure 6 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 12 is a sectional view taken along the line l2-l2 of Figure 7 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 13 is a view in side elevation partly in section of a modified form of rear mount for hunting scopes.

Figure 14 is a view in side elevation of the front mount used with the rear mount shown in Figure 13.

Figure 15 is a sectional view taken along the line l5-I5 of Figure 13 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 16 is a sectional view taken along the line I 6-16 of Figure 13 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 17 is a sectional view taken along the line l'l-ll of Figure 13 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 18 is a sectional view taken along the line I8-l8 of Figure 14 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 19 is a sectional view taken along the line Iii-l9 of Figure 18 looking in the direction of the arrows,

In the drawings there is shown a rifle l of conventional construction having removably secured thereon a telescope 2. While the telescope 2 is the hunting type scope, it is obvious that other kinds may be used. Mounted adjacent the receiver of the rifle are front and rear mounting blocks 3 and 4. As shown in Figure 9, the block 4 is of dovetail shape and is attached to the receiver ring by a screw 5, the head of which is counter-sunk as clearly illustrated. The mounting block 3 is of similar shape and is attached to the rifle barrel.

A forward base member I having a longitudinal dovetail groove 8 is adapted to slide over the mount 3. The upper face of the base is reduced at its forward end to form an extension 9 provided with a threaded aperture Ill. The upper surface of the base is formed with an arcuate tongue H having an inclined edge I2 and a rectangular edge l3. The arcuate tongue H is concentric with the aperture l 0.

A clamp l4 for the front end of the telescope is provided and it has a circular bore 15 that is split off center as shown at It in Figure 10. When the scope is positioned within the bore it is fixed thereto by counter-sunk tightening screws I! provided in the clamp 14. The lower wall of the clamp is formed with a lateral arcuate groove Hi, the sides l9 and 20 of which coincide with edges I2 and I3 of the tongue II when the clamp is positioned on the base I. The forward end of the clamp l4 has a counter-bored aperture 2| that is adapted to be disposed over the threaded aperture I [I formed in the extension 9 of the base I. A shouldered pivot screw 22 is positioned in the apertures 2| and ID for mounting the clamp I4 for pivotal movement on the base "I.

A rear base 23 provided with a longitudinal dovetail groove 24 in its undersurface is adapted to slide over the mounting block 4. The upper face of the base 23 is formed with a lateral dovetailed tongue 25, the angular edges of which are arcuate, and when the bases 1 and 23 are positioned on the rifle the angular edges are also concentric with the aperture IE1.

The base 23 is also cutaway at its rear portion, as shown at 26 to provide horizontal lugs 2'i Windage adjustment screws 28 extend through threaded apertures 29 in the lugs and are provided on their outer extremities with winged lock nuts 34.

The rear portion of the scope 2 is held in a clamp 3| having a central bore 32, and it will be seen that the clamp is split longitudinally along its lower face as at 33. The lower face of the clamp is formed with a lateral dovetail groove 34 with inclined faces 35 which engage the tongue 25 when the clamp is disposed upon the base 23. As best shown in Figures 2 and 8, the clamp 3| carries vertical lugs 36 at its rear end which when the clamp is disposed upon the base extend into the cutaway portion 26 between the windage adjustment screws 28. As a consequence, the proper windage adjustment can be effected by manipulation of the screws with respect to the lug 36 to move the scope about the pivot screw 22.

The attachment of the scope 2 and the clamp BI is made by the adjustment of countersunk screws 3'! provided along the lower edge of the clamp on either side of the dovetail groove 34.

The bases 1 and 23 are attached to the mounting blocks 3 and 4, respectively. as shown specifically in Figure 9. As the attachment is similar for both the front and rear mounts only that for the rear mount will be described. The base adjacent the upper surface of the tongue 25 is cutaway as indicated by the numeral 40 and a sliding block 4| is disposed in the cutaway portion. The block 4! is provided with a fiat 42 flush with the upper face of the tongue. The inner face of the block is concave as shown at 43 and is adapted to fit into a print 44 formed in the mounting block 4. A bolt 45 extends from the opposite side of the base 23 through bore 46 and its end threadedly engages the sliding block 4|, as clearly shown in Figure 9. Consequently by tightening the bolt 45 the block 4| will be moved into engagement with the print 44, thus securing the base 23 thereto. Incidentally, it will be seen that the head of the bolt 45 is countersunk whereby the base will present no rough surfaces.

The removal of the scope and its attaching clamps and bases from the rifle and their subsequent replacement is relatively simple and constitutes a considerable improvement over the mounts which have heretofore been employed. As pointed out before one great disadvantage of these prior devices has been that when the telescope has been removed from the rifle it affects the windage'adiustment which means of course that the scope must be sighted in again when it is replaced on the gun. However, with my mounts the operator of the rifie does not have to bother in any way the windage adjustment when the scope is taken off. The bases I and 23 are removed simply by loosening the bolt Q which frees the base from its respective mount on the gun and the bases, clamps and scope are thus free to be removed from the rifle in a fixed unit. This removal in no way disturbs the windage adjustment and the advantages thereof are believed readily apparent. The replacement of the scope is also a very simple matter since it merely means that the bases are slid onto the mounting blocks and the bolts M are drawn up to move the concave face 43 into engagement with the print of each mount block.

Another desirable characteristic of my invention is that the mounts are very sturdy in construction and are so arranged that the scope is situated rather low on the rifle but is still high enough to permit the device to be used with a bolt action rifle. Also it will be seen that all of the securing devices such as bolts and screws are counter-sunk thus providing mounts which present a smooth outer surface and thereby obviating the danger of the mounts becoming entangled or caught by foliage, brush, or the like.

In Figures 13 to 19 inclusive I have shown a slightly modified form of my inventive concept. In this particular embodiment it will be seen that I provide a front base member so having a longitudinal dovetail groove @i which slides over the mount 3. The upper face of the base is reduced at its forward end to form an extension 32 provided with a threaded aperture 63. The upper face of the base is also formed with a lateral dovetailed tongue 54, the angular edges of which are arcuate. These edges are also concentric with the aperture 63.

I provide a clamp for the front end of the scope and it has a circular bore which is split longitudinally as shown at El. To attach the scope to the clamp it will be seen that one of the sides of the clamp is provided with bosses 63 into each of which is threaded a screw 59; The lower wall of the clamp 65 is provided with a lateral arcuate groove Hi. the groove having an inclined edge H and a rectangular edge '52. It will be seen that the edge H coincides with one angular edge of the tongue 3 and to assure a correct fit between the clamp and the base, a gib i3 is positioned between the wall 72 and the other inclined face of the tongue E 3. To adjust the gib it for proper sliding engagement between the clamp and the base, it will be seen that vertical threaded apertures M are provided in the base. Screws 5 are threaded in the aperture M and the upper ends of the screws bear against the lower face of the gib, and by tightening these screws the gib will be moved into a tighter fit with the tongue St. A centering pin '56 is adapted to extend through an aperture T! in the gib and fits in sockets 18 formed in the base 60.

The clamp 65 is pivotally attached to the base to in a similar manner to that shown in Figure '7 by the shouldered screw 22 being threaded into the aperture 63. mounting block 3 by securing device 83 which is similar in construction and operation to that previously described in connection with the forms shown in Figure 1.

A base 85 having a dovetail groove 86 in its The base 55 is attached to its lower face slides over the rear mount block 4. The upper face of the base 85 is cutaway to form a lateral tongue 81 having an inclined arcuate edge 38 and a vertical arcuate edge 89. The edges 88 and 89 are concentric with the aperture 63 provided in the tongue 62.

The rear portion of the base 85 is cutaway to form lugs 90 and windage adjustment screws 9! extend through threaded apertures in each lug. Winged lock nuts 82 are threaded onto the outer ends of the screws 9|.

A clamp 94 for the rearward end of the scope having a bore 95 is split as shown at 96. When the scope is disposed within the bore 95 it is secured therein by means of screws @i which are threaded into apertures 98 formed in bosses 83.

In Figure 13 i will be seen that the lower face of the clamp 553 is provided with a lateral dovetail groove H1? that is wider than the tongue 81. When the clamp 9? is disposed upon the base 85, it will be noted that angular face 88 of the base coincides with one angular face of the dovetail groove Iii-3, and a gib it! having a vertical wall [82 is positioned between the vertical wall as of the tongue and the opposite angular wall of the groove I93. The base is provided with vertical apertures into which are positioned screws ltd. the upper ends of which threadedly engage apertures formed in the gib P31. t is believed readily apparent that when the screw is tightened the gib Hi! will move down wardly thus affording a tight sliding fit between the groove we and the tongue 31. Moreover, employing these gibs greater tolerances may be permitted than in the mounts illustrated in Figures 1 to 12, thereby greatly reducing the cost of manufacture.

The rear portion of the clamp 94 is formed with a downwardl extending member 454 which projects into the cutaway portion of the base 85 between the lugs 95. Consequently, by rotation of the screws 9! the proper windage adjustment of the scope can be effected.

The base 85 is removably attached to the mount block 4 by a securing device i535 which is similar to the member 86 shown in Figure 14 with refer'ehce to the front scope mount.

This particular embodiment affords a very effective scope mount and with the use of the gibs i3 and Hi! provided in the front and rear scope mounts, respectively, there can be no binding between the base and the scope clamp. The mounts are removed from and replaced on the rifle in practically the same manner as those disclosed in connection with Figure 1.

From the foregoing description it will be appreciated that I have provided a mount for scope sights for a rifle that is relatively simple in construction and operation and which can be easily and cheaply manufactured. Furthermore, with my mounts the scope and its associated parts can be removed from the rifle or replaced on the rifle without disturbing the windage adjustment, which is of course a highly desirable feature and which overcomes this serious defect in the art. Another important feature of this device is that it presents no rough exterior surface, which means that when the rifle is used in the hunting fields there can be no danger of it becoming entangled in foliage, brush, or the like. Also, the mount will permit the scope to be positioned low on the rifie yet high enough to enable it to be used with bolt action rifles, and this of course is most desirable.

By the addition of another block on the receiver ridge, it is possible to employ the hunting scope on a target rifle. Additionally, my novel mount in eflect affords the accuracy of a target rifle in a hunting rifle.

While I have shown and described the preferred embodiment of my invention, I wish it to be understood that I do not confine myself to the precise details of construction herein set forth by way of illustration, as it is apparent that many changes and variations may be made therein, by those skilled in the art, without departing from the spirit of the invention or exceeding the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a device for mounting a telescope on a rifle having a receiver, a block on the rifle forwardly of the receiver, a second block on the rifle rearwardly of the receiver, a base removably secured to the forward block and provided with an arcuate tongue, a clamp for the forward end of the telescope mounted on the base for pivotal movement about a vertical axis located by said arcuate tongue, an arcuate groove in the clamp slidably engaging the arcuate tongue, a second base removably secured to the rear block and having an arcuate tongue that is concentric with the vertical axis of the front clamp on its base, a clamp for the rear end of the telescope having an arcuate groove that slidably engages the arcuate tongue, depending lugs supported by the clamp, a windage adjustment comprising a cutaway portion in said second base, windage adjustment screws in the last mentioned base and projecting from opposite directions into said cutaway portion, the lugs of the rear clamp being disposed in the cutaway portion and engaged by said adjustment screws whereby adjustment of the telescope about the pivot point may be effected, and a locking device for each of said front and rear bases including a sliding block in each base and means for displacing the sliding blocks into releasable engagement with the blocks on which the bases are mounted whereby each base and its associated clamp may be removed from the rifle.

2. A mount for a telescope for attachment to a rifle provided with a receiver comprising a block carried by the rifle forward of the receiver, a second block carried by the rifle rearward of the receiver, a base removably secured to the forward block and provided with a tongue having concentric arcuate end walls, a clamp for the forward end of the telescope pivoted to the base for movement about the vertical axis, a groove having an arcuate undercut face and an arcuate vertical face in said clamp and being concentric with and slidably fitting the arcuate end walls of the tongue, a gib having an undercut face and a vertical face positioned in an opening communicating with the groove so that its undercut face is in a position to engage the tongue and the vertical face is contiguous with the vertical face of the groove, means extending through the base to move said gib to effect a tighter fit between the clamp and the base, a second base removably secured to the rear block and having a tongue provided with arcuate end walls concentric with the pivot point of the front clamp to the front base, one of said end walls being angular and the other being vertical, a clamp for the rear end of the telescope provided with an arcuate groove that is concentric with the end Walls of the second tongue, a second gib having a vertical face and an angular face positioned in the groove so that its vertical face is adjacent the vertical face of the tongue and its angular face is adjacent the face of the groove, means extending through the base to move the gib to provide a closer fit between the clamp and the base, a lug carried by the clamp, a windage adjustment comprising a cutaway portion in the base,

. windage adjustment screws in the base and projecting from opposite directions into said cutaway portion, the lug of the clamp being disposed in the cutaway portion and engaged by said adjustment screws whereby the clamp may be moved about the pivot point of the clamp to effect a windage adjustment, and a locking device carried by each base whereby each base may be removably secured to its block so that the telescope can be removed from the block without affecting the windage adjustment.

ERNEST L. MEISEL. 

